Adjust Our Diet 15: Facing Social Pressure

Changing our diet to plant-based foods, my family faced social pressures in the initial years. It is quite difficult for my parents and relatives to accept that my family members no longer eat meat. To them, meat is an indispensable source of protein. If we do not take meat, we have no energy to work and we would not be healthy.

During the second half of 1990s, we went back to my home village in Terengganu for Chinese New Year. My parents strongly felt that my children should eat meat as they were skinny. The social pressure was on my wife and me. At first, my wife gave in by taking some chicken during the reunion dinners. She did not want to have sour relationship with my parents because of meat consumption. It took a few years to explain that we no longer take meat and would like to continue doing so. Now, my parents are aware that we are genuine vegetarians. They no longer insist that we need to take meat to maintain health. They too have observed that my family members are in good health over the years. My children also grow normally and they do not have to take any medicine. It is a relief for my wife as she no longer has to face this form of social pressure.

On one occasion in 2002, a distant relative came to know that we have turned vegetarians. He insisted that I should take meat to maintain health. To him, I have lost some weight and must be having some health problems due to the lack of nutrients from meat. He was also of the opinion that my daughter is also too thin. I explained that by becoming a vegetarian, I have not fallen sick over the years. I do not have to take medicine. It is my choice. He was speechless as he has to take medicine from time to time to treat various diseases and illnesses.

Some friends and colleagues were initially not at ease after learning that I no longer take meat. To them, I am too thin and under weight. To maintain social relationship, I normally do not explain much unless requested. For me, being a vegetarian is a private matter. We have learned to respect each other. During official functions, I stick to my vegetarian foods. When I participated in the audit team to assess forest management in the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Selangor, the state Forestry Departments were kind enough to ensure that vegetables and fruits were available for me during meal times. The management of Carotino Sdn Bhd extended the same hospitality when I participated in the pre-assessment on Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) requirements in 2008. I sincerely appreciate their efforts even though I did not make any request.